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Title: | Potential determinants of the decline in mpox cases in Belgium: A behavioral, epidemiological and seroprevalence study | Authors: | De Vos, Elise Van Gestel, Liesbeth Brosius, Isabel Kenyon, Chris Vuylsteke, Bea De Baetselier, Irith Marien , Joachim Bangwen, Eugene Couvreur, Simon Lecompte, Amaryl Van Beckhoven, Dominique Hoorelbeke, Bart Verstrepen, Babs E. Zaeck, Luca M. de Vries, Rory D. van Kessel, Corine H. Geurts HENS, Niel Arien, Kevin K. Vercauteren, Koen Van Esbroek, Marjan Van Dijck, Christophe Liesenborghs, Laurens |
Issue Date: | 2024 | Publisher: | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Source: | International journal of infectious diseases, 146 (Art N° 107132) | Abstract: | Objectives: The 2022 mpox epidemic reached a peak in Belgium and the rest of Europe in July 2022, after which it unexpectedly subsided. This study investigates epidemiological, behavioral, and immunological factors behind the waning of the epidemic in Belgium. Methods: We investigated temporal evolutions in the characteristics and behavior of mpox patients using national surveillance data and data from a prospective registry of mpox patients in the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp). We studied behavioral changes in the population at risk using a survey among HIV-preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. We determined the seroprevalence of anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies among HIV-PrEP users across four-time points in 2022. Results: Mpox patients diagnosed at the end of the epidemic had less sexual risk behavior compared to those diagnosed earlier: they engaged less in sex at mass events, had fewer sexual partners, and were less likely to belong to the sexual network's central group. Among HIV-PrEP users there were no notable changes in sexual behavior. Anti-orthopoxvirus seroprevalence did not notably increase before the start of national vaccination campaigns. Conclusion: The observed changes in group immunity and behavior in the population at greater risk of exposure to mpox seem unable to explain the waning of the mpox epidemic. A change in the profile of mpox patients might have contributed to the decline in cases. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ) | Notes: | De Vos, E (corresponding author), Natl Str 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium. edevos@itg.be |
Keywords: | Mpox;Sexual and gender minorities;Sexual behavior;Multiple sexual partners;Herd immunity;Smallpox vaccination;Seroepidemiologic studies | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/43716 | ISSN: | 1201-9712 | e-ISSN: | 1878-3511 | DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107132 | ISI #: | 001287263700001 | Rights: | 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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